Carr honored by fellow GFPD officers

A Carrington native has been recognized by his peers in law enforcement for saving the life of a 5-year-old child.

Officer Walker Carr, son of Brian and Heather Carr of Carrington, received a Lifesaving Award from the Grand Forks Police Department (GFPD). The GFPD's Lifesaving Award is given to any member of our department or a citizen for sustaining or saving the life of any human being.

The award was presented during the Grand Forks Police Department Awards Ceremony Holiday Event on Friday, Dec. 15. GFPD Chief of Police Mark A. Nelson made the presentation.

Officer Carr is relatively new to law enforcement, which makes this award even more extraordinary. He has been a member of the Grand Forks Police Department for a year and a half, and he has little more than three years experience on the job.

His act of heroism came on what started out to be just another ordinary day at work. He responded to a call for service in reference to an unconscious child.

"I was not the primary officer dispatched to this particular call for service but found myself close to the address by coincidence," Carr recalls. "I activated my emergency lights and siren to expedite my response."

When he arrived on scene moments later, he was met outside the residence by the mother, who was holding the young child. He immediately assessed the child, determined there was no pulse and administered CPR.

Fellow officer Austin Hoffman, the primary officer dispatched to the scene, assisted with the lifesaving measures. Hoffman, who has prior law enforcement experience in McKenzie County, N.D., also received a Lifesaving Award. Hoffman joined the GFPD at nearly the same time as Carr.

In order to receive the award, an officer must be nominated by a supervisor, and the individual must have been released from the hospital, making a full recovery.

"It is important to remember that, while we are recognizing Grand Forks PD officers involved in saving a life, several different agencies have a role in any emergency medical response. Those include our dispatch center, paramedics and firefighters," remarked Lt. Andrew Stein of the GFPD.

Carr is a 2016 graduate of Carrington High School. He obtained a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D. and holds minors in legal studies and accounting. After college, he graduated from the South Dakota Law Enforcement Training Academy in Pierre, S.D.

Prior to joining GFPD, Carr worked for the Rapid City Police Department for approximately two years.

Stein lauded Carr's commitment to law enforcement and his role at GFPD. "Carr is an outstanding officer who is clearly community and service oriented. We count ourselves as lucky he has made Grand Forks and our agency his home and we are proud of the work he does," he said.

"This kid makes us proud every day. In and out of uniform," mom Heather said.